Issued: 10 Jun 2026
A Lochaber High School pupil won the boys title for the Highland schools mountain bike championships in Fort William held last Thursday 5th June.
Jamie Bailey of Lochaber High came first in the boys event followed by Rory MacLennan also of Lochaber High and in third place Grant Sutherland from Golspie High. Nikki Sinclair from Fortrose Academy came 1st in the S1 -2 girls class and first equal in the P6 - 7 girls group were Alice Cant from Fort William Primary and Bethany Sutherland from Golspie Primary
Event organiser, Highland Council's Active Schools Co-ordinator Ruari Watt said: "Many aspiring young cyclists see the mountain bike World Cup, held annually in Fort William as the pinnacle of the sport. The event has made stars like Steve Peat, Tracey Moseley and Cedric Gracia heroes in school playgrounds around the Highlands. Last Thursday, pupils from Highland schools had the opportunity to be part of the World Cup during the Highland Schools Championships."
Qualifying events were previously held at popular mountain bike trails in Laggan, Learnie on the Black Isle, and at Golspie and Fort William. This allowed teams to be selected to travel to Fort William to race on the famous 'Witches Trail' course.
Highland Councillor Bill Fernie, Chairman of The Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport Committee said: "Congratulations to everyone who took part in the Highland schools mountain biking championships. This is an excellent example of how we can link into major sporting events for the benefit of the wider community and for our young people who will hopefully be the Steve Peats and Tracey Moseleys of tomorrow."
Ruari Watt added: "World Cup Commentator Dan Jarvis created an atmosphere and sent the riders out to take on the very dry and dusty course, which included well loved (and loathed) sections used by the professionals in Saturday's race. Some races were closely fought on the course, with the equal finish of Alice Cant and Bethany Sutherland in the p6-7 girls event being the tightest! Defending Champions Ben Miller and Nikki Sinclair kept their titles, though Collwyn Young gave a good challenge in the S1-2 race."
The team event totalled points from the top five positions from all races, with Fort William as the overall winning team. Prizes were presented on the official World Cup podium by Fort William World Cup rider Joe Barnes, who rides in the World Series for MTB Cut TV / Orange bikes.
Prizes for the event were kindly donated by Off Beat Bikes, Nevis Cycles, Rare Management, Buff, Forestry Commission, MTB Cut, Scottish Cycling and Lochaber College. A special prize, donated by Team Animal / Commencal, was a race jersey signed by Rachel, Dan and Gee Atherton, who all won their events at the previous World Cup in Andorra.
Ruari Watt, was assisted in organising the event by other Highland Council Active Schools Co-ordinators Bridget Thomas, Tina Gibson, Nicola Yea, and Wim Chalmet.
The Highland Council is grateful to Rare Management for its overall support and scheduling of the event and to chief marshal Andy Rogers and his team for managing the course and Dan Jarvis for the commentary. Thanks also go to parents who helped out and supporting the riders.
RESULTS
Boys:
1) Jamie Bailey (Lochaber) Lochaber High
2) Rory MacLennan (Lochaber) Lochaber High
3) Grant Sutherland (Sutherland) Golspie High
S1-2 Boys:
1) Ben Miller (Lochaber) Kinlochleven High
2) Collwyn Young (Black Isle) Fortrose Academy
3) Iain Paton (Sutherland) Golspie High
S1-2 Girls:
Nikki Sinclair (Black Isle) Fortrose Academy
Katie Maclennan (Lochaber) Lochaber High
Megan Munro (Lochaber) Lochaber High
P6-7 Boys
1) Thomas Van Holten (Sutherland) Dornoch Primary
2) Donald Rogers (Badenoch & Strathspey) Rosebank Primary
3) Callum Russell (Lochaber) Connon Bridge Primary
P6-7 Girls
=1) Alice Cant (Lochaber) Fort William Primary
=1) Bethany Sutherland (Sutherland) Golspie Primary
3) Amy Harris (Lochaber) Ballachulish Primary
4) Elena Molton (Badenoch & Strathspey) Grantown Primary